Tag Archives: garlic

Shallots

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What are they and how do we use them? Let’s check them out.

A shallot is a type of onion but is smaller, more elongated and milder flavored. The flavor has a slight garlic taste as well. The skins can be copper, reddish, or gray skinned. When cut into, rather than rings like an onion, it will have cloves like garlic. Usually there are 2-3 cloves but can have up to 6. They will be flat on one side and rounded on the other. A recipe may call for number of shallots or number of shallot cloves.

Shallots can be substituted for onion. Generally you can use three small shallots for every small onion called for. They cannot be substituted if it is supposed to be raw. Also take into consideration the slight taste of garlic when substituting and maybe cut back on amount of garlic.

https://www.thespruceeats.com/what-are-shallots-1807054

About Garlic

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Let’s talk about garlic. It can be pungent, it can be sweet. They grow in a bulb comprised of cloves. A bulb can contain about 10-20 cloves. It grows all overthe world. At one time, it was used mostly for medicinal uses.

There are many ways people prepare garlic. Peel off the cloves and remove the peel. Even that has a few different ways to accomplish it. You can just peel it off – sometimes it is difficult to remove them. One trick I like to use is to lightly smash it with a knife and sometimes it peels right off. Another way is to put the cloves between two a couple of bowls and or some kind of closed container and shake it.

After you have the peels removed from the cloves, you can do severalthings. Some people may put whole cloves in their dishes, you can slice them, mince them, crush them.

Garlic is healthy in many ways. It can help combat the common cold. A study found that it reduced colds by 70% and also reduced the number of days of the cold. It can help reduce LDL cholesterol. It has antioxidants. Some people use garlic supplements.

Source

Healthy Thanksgiving Cooking: The Sides

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The main side for the traditional Thanksgiving dinner is mashed potatoes. There are ways to reduce the calories in this side dish. I asked Jody Victor to tell us more about it.

Jody Victor: Instead of using butter and milk or cream to mash your potatoes, reserve some of the cooking water. The starchy water will actually make your mashed potatoes creamier than if you use plain water as a substitute for milk or cream. If you prefer to use milk, try evaporated skim milk, fat-free milk, or fat-free sour cream. To boost the flavor of your mashed potatoes, you can add turkey or chicken broth or stir in some garlic and herbs.

Sweet potatoes are another Thanksgiving side dish staple. Rather than using maple syrup or brown sugar to liven them up, try spices such as ginger and cinnamon when making mashed sweet potatoes. Try roasting or baking raw sweet potatoes instead of using canned sweet potatoes, which are packed in sugar or corn syrup.

Vegetable casseroles are also traditional side dishes at Thanksgiving. Look for low calorie substitutes for your casserole recipes. Substitute ricotta cheese for cream cheese. Light butter or margarine for butter. Plain yogurt or fat-free sour cream for sour cream. Evaporated skim milk or low-fat milk for whole milk. Broth based soups for cream based soups. Use fresh vegetables (or frozen) as much as possible instead of canned vegetables, which are high in sodium and low in nutrients.

ROASTED SWEET POTATOES
4 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2 inch pieces
(You can precook sweet potatoes in microwave to decrease roasting time.)
2 medium onions cut into 1 inch pieces
Salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with olive oil cooking spray. Put potatoes and onions in baking dish and spray them lightly. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place in oven and stir mixture every 15 minutes or so. Spray them a little every time you stir. Bake 35/45 minutes (if precooked) to 60/80 minutes (if raw) until tender. For variations, you can add cayenne pepper for heat or cinnamon for sweet or chopped rosemary for savory tastes.

FRESH GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE
4 cups fresh green beans cut into 1 inch pieces
2 shallots or 8 green onions, sliced
8 ounces baby bella mushrooms (or any fresh mushroom), sliced
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cups + 2 tablespoons rice milk (or low-fat milk), divided
2 tablespoons cornstarch
10 wonton wrappers
Bring water to a boil in a 2-quart saucepan. Place green beans in boiling water and cook until just soft (about 10 minutes). Drain and set aside. Heat large saucepan on medium heat. Spritz with cooking spray. Sauté shallots/green onions until translucent and starting to brown. Add mushrooms, salt and pepper. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are soft and slightly browned. Use more cooking spray if necessary. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add 2 cups of the milk to the pan and bring to a boil. While milk is heating up, combine cornstarch and the 2 tablespoons of milk in a small bowl. Add cornstarch mixture to boiling milk mixture. Whisk constantly until mixture is thickened. Reduce heat to simmer then remove from heat after 5 minutes. Cut wontons into thin strips. Spread strips evenly on a baking sheet. Season to taste, if desired. Bake for five minutes. Stir and bake until golden brown (another 2 to 3 minutes). Set aside to cool. Add green beans to milk mixture. Stir to coat evenly. Pour coated beans mixture into a greased casserole dish. Cover with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes, or until beans are hot and bubbly. Remove from oven. Top with toasted wontons.

Thanks Jody

All the Best
Steve Victor

Summer Squash

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Summer squash is a type of squash that is harvested when immature and the rind is still tender and edible. I asked Jody Victor®  to tell us more about it.

Jody Victor®: The name “summer squash” refers to its short storage life as opposed to the longer storage life of winter squash. Summer squashes include: cousa squash, patty pan/scallop squash, yellow crookneck squash, yellow summer squash, and zucchini. Summer squash can be harvested later in the season when the rind is tougher. You just have to prepare them more like a winter squash with longer cooking times.

To prepare summer squash, run it under water until the skin feels clean. Cut off and discard the ends. If the skin is tough or if the skin feels gritty after washing, peel it. Summer squash can be grated, sliced, or cut into desired pieces.

To steam summer squash, arrange the pieces in a strainer or rack over 1/2 inch of boiling water. Cover and steam just until barely tender. Drain well and toss with olive oil or your favorite sauce.

 To sauté summer squash, cook in butter or olive oil over medium-high heat until barely tender. Season with herbs of your choice, salt, and pepper. The healthiest way to sauté any vegetable is in 3 tablespoons of vegetable or chicken broth or even water. Heat liquid in a stainless steel skillet. Once bubbles begin to form add sliced squash, cover, and “healthy sauté” for 3 minutes (1 1/2 minutes on each side). Transfer to a bowl and toss with a Mediterranean dressing or any dressing of your choice.

STUFFED SUMMER SQUASH

3 medium summer squash

1 large onion, chopped

 3 tablespoons olive oil

 1/2 pound sausage

 3 cups fresh bread crumbs, divided in half

 1 cup Parmesan cheese, divided in half

 3 tablespoons parsley, chopped

 4 tablespoons melted butter 

 Cook squash with 4 tablespoons water in microwave on high for 7 minutes. Cool. Saute onion and garlic in olive oil. Remove from pan. Saute sausage until brown. Put onion/garlic back in pan and mix with 1 1/2 cups bread crumbs, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, and parsley. Cut squash in half lengthwise and scoop out leaving 1/2 inch shell. Drain scooped-out squash for a few minutes then add to sausage mixture. Put squash mixture in squash shells. Make a topping with melted butter, 1 1/2 cups bread crumbs, and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. Bake in greased pan, covered for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Uncover and bake for another 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Serves 6.

SUMMER SQUASH VEGETABLE MEDLEY

2 pounds yellow summer squash and/or zucchini, sliced

1 green bell pepper, sliced

 2 medium tomatoes, cut into wedges

1/2 onion, sliced

1 clove garlic, chopped]

 Olive oil

5-6 slices jack or cheddar cheese

Basil, dry or chopped fresh

Salt and pepper

Saute squash, onion, garlic, and bell pepper in a large saucepan with a couple tablespoons of olive oil. Brown the vegetables slightly. Sprinkle with basil and stir it in. Remove from heat and add slices of cheese. Cover. In a separate frying pan, sauté tomatoes on medium high heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Juices from tomatoes should evaporate some. Add the tomatoes to the rest of the vegetables. Stir gently. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serves 4.

SUMMER SQUASH WITH ROASTED GARLIC

 2 summer squash

1/4 cup olive oil

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon of herbs of choice

 Salt and pepper to taste

 Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Cut each squash lengthwise into quarters. Cut spears in half crosswise and in half again until you have 16 short spears. Toss squash in olive oil and garlic in a bowl. Place in shallow baking dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast squash until the spears and garlic begin to brown, 5 to 10 minutes. Check squash after 5 minutes and add time in 2 to 3 minute intervals to avoid burning. Serves 4.

Thanks, Jody!

All the Best!

Steve Victor

Great Green Tomatoes

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We are nearing the last harvest for summer fruits and vegetables. Tomato vines are loaded with green tomatoes that may not ripen. It’s time to enjoy tomatoes green! I asked Jody Victor®   to tell us some of his favorite recipes.

Jody Victor®: Here you go, Steve, a few of my favorites.

Quick Fried Green Tomatoes

2 green tomatoes, sliced 1/2 to 1/3 inch thick

Prepare egg wash with one egg and 2 tablespoons of water

Mix panko bread crumbs with seasonings of choice.

Heat oil in skillet at medium-high heat.

Dip slices in egg washm then breading, then the skillet.

Cook about 2 minutes per side. Turn when edges begin to brown.

Remove slices and place on paper towel-lined plate.

Season with salt and pepper.

Serve with ranch dressing.

Fried Green Tomatoes

1 pound green tomatoes, sliced 1/2 inch thick

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup plain dry breadcrumbs

1/3 cup cornmeal

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Salt and black pepper

Generous sprinkling of white pepper

2 large eggs, beaten

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

In medium bowl, season flour with salt and black and white pepper. Mis well with fork. In a second bowl, place eggs and beat well. In third bowl, mix bread crumbs, cornmeal, and Parmesan cheese. Dredge tomato slices in seasoned flour. Dip them in egg, letting excess drip back into bowl. Press slices in the breadcrumb/cornmeal/Parmesan mixture. In large nonstick skillet, heat olive oil until it shimmers. Add tomatoe slices (single layer) and cook over medium-high heat, turning once, until golden and crisp (2 1/2 to 3 minutes per side). Transfer to paper towel-lined plate. Drizzle with favorite salad dressing.

Grilled Green Tomatoes

1/2 cup olive oil

1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt

4 medium-size green tomatoes, cut into 1/4 inch slices

1 16-oz package fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced

Salt and pepper to taste

1/3 cup fresh basil, sliced thin

Combine first 5 ingredients in a large zip-top plastic freezer bag. Add tomatoes, seal, and shake gently to coat. Chill for one hour. Preheat grill to 350-400 degrees. Remove tomatoes from marinade, reserving marinade. Grill tomatoes, grill lid down, 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until tender and grill marks appear. Arrange alternating slices of tomato and mozzarella on a large shallow platter. Drizzle with reserved marinade. Salt and pepper to taste ans sprinkle with basil.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1                                                                                                                                           3 Thanks, Jody! We’ll be sure to try these.

All the Best!

Steve Victor